Petunia plant named ‘PBLRE32-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  cultivar named ‘PBLRE32-0’ is disclosed, characterized by unique solid scarlet red flowers with white throat and a mounding plant habit. Plants of the new variety are highly floriferous and form dense, attractive plant shapes with exceptionally good branching. The new variety is a  Petunia , suitable as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Petunia hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PBLRE32-0’.

The new Petunia cultivar resulted as part of a planned breeding programby the inventor Jun Tsukahara, in Yame, Fukuoka, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program was to develop new Petunia varieties withinteresting colors and attractive plant forms.

The new variety resulted from the crossing of the seed parent, anunnamed, unpatented proprietary Petunia seedling with the pollen parent,an unnamed, unpatented proprietary Petunia seedling in September 2006.The new variety was discovered in May of 2007 by the inventor in a groupof seedlings resulting from that crossing, in a commercial greenhouse inYame, Fukuoka, Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PBLRE32-0’ by vegetativecuttings was first performed at a commercial greenhouse in Yame,Fukuoka, Japan in May 2007. Subsequently many generations have beenproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PBLRE32-0’ has not observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length and lightintensity, without however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘PBLRE32-0.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘PBLRE32-0’ as a new and distinct Petuniacultivar:

-   -   1. Unique flower color of solid scarlet red with a white throat.    -   2. Mounding plant shape.    -   3. Highly floriferous plant habit.    -   4. Attractive densely growing plant habit.    -   5. Exceptionally good branching.

COMPARISON TO THE PARENT VARIETIES

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PBLRE32-0’ are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics to plants of the unnamed proprietary seed parent.However, the new variety has a larger overall flower size and shorterinternodes than the seed parent. Additionally, plants of the seed parentproduce red-violet colored flowers, whereas ‘PBLRE32-0’ produces scarletred flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PBLRE32-0’ are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics to plants of the unnamed proprietary pollen parent.However, the pollen parent has darker colored flowers, and a largeroverall flower size than the new cultivar. Additionally, the pollenparent has longer internodes and a less mounding plant habit than thenew cultivar.

COMPARISON TO COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The new cultivar can be compared to the patented commercial variety‘Blue Salmon Pink’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,181. ‘PBLRE32-0’ is similar tothis commercial variety in most horticultural characteristics, mostspecifically, in plant habit, however, plants of the new variety producedifferent color flowers, and produce more flowers per plant.

The new cultivar can be compared to the patented commercial variety‘MP101’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,998. ‘PBLRE32-0’ is similar to thiscommercial variety in most horticultural characteristics, however,plants of the new variety produce larger flowers, and an overall plantshape that is significantly more mounding than trailing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color typicalflowers and foliage of ‘PBLRE32-0’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical plant of ‘PBLRE32-0’ grown in a greenhouse,in a 10 inch commercial basket. Age of the plant photographed isapproximately 20 weeks from 5 rooted cuttings. The photographs weretaken using conventional techniques and although colors may appeardifferent from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurateas possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurement describe ‘PBLRE32-0’ plants grown in a commercialgreenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. The growing temperature ranged from 18° C.to 25° C. The greenhouse is subject to partial shade. General lightconditions are bright, normal sunlight with some shade during thebrightest part of the day. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia hybrid ‘PBLRE32-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 7 days at approximately 25° C.-   Time to develop roots: About 14 to 21 days at approximately 25° C.-   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding.-   Age of the plant described: Approximately 20 weeks from 5 rooted    cuttings.-   Pot size of plant described: Approximately 10 inch basket.-   Height: Approximately 21 cm from soil line to top of plant.-   Plant spread: Approximately 48 cm at widest point.-   Growth rate: Rapid.-   Branching characteristics: Free branching.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Approximately 18 cm.-   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 70.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 138A.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Strength.—Highly flexible, moderately strong.-   Internode length: Approximately 1.9 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 18 per main lateral branch.        -   Average length.—Approximately 3.8 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Matte with pubescence.        -   Pubescence.—Very short, less than 1 mm hairs, densely            covering leaf.        -   Aspect.—Very slightly recurved.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137C. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 137D.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144B. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144C.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 0.2 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 137B. Texture:            Pubescent.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring and Summer.-   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: Approximately 50.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Single salverform with    fused petals.-   Rate of flower opening: Approximately 2 to 3 days from bud to fully    opened flower.-   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 1 week.-   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant: Approximately 200 flowers    and buds.-   Flowers: Persistent.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—Approximately 3 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1.4 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-White 158B, distal end near            Orange-Red N34A.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter, widest point.—Approximately 5 cm.        -   Overall length.—Approximately 6.5        -   Flower tube length.—Approximately 3.5 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at distal end.—Approximately 1.7 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter at proximal end.—Approximately 0.8 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Length from throat.—About 2 cm.        -   Width.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Quantity.—5, fused.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Apex.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Color:    -   -   When opening.—Inner surface: Near RHS Orange-Red N34A. Outer            surface: Near RHS Orange-Red N34C.        -   Fully opened.—Inner surface: Near RHS Red 42A. Outer            surface: Near RHS Red 36A. Flower throat (inside): Near RHS            White N155B. Flower tube (outside): Near RHS Red 36D. Petal            color, fading to: Near RHS Red 43B.-   Calyx/sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5, fused at base.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.1 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Green 137A. Lower Surface:            Near RHS Green 137C.        -   Peduncle.—Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 137A.            Orientation: Approximately 45 degree angle from stem.-   Fragrance: Sweet.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Globular.        -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Yellow 160B.        -   Pollen.—Not observed.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1 cm. Color: Near RHS White            N155D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Oblate. Color: Near RHS Green-White 157A.            Ovary Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 150D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistant nor susceptible to normal    diseases and pests of Petunia.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between approximately 6° to 35° C.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant named ‘PBLRE32-0’ asherein illustrated and described.